Community supports the women involved in hit and run

February 20, 2013

By Rob Glidden
Staff Writer

A hit and run accident on Queen Street has led to an outpouring of support from residents and local businesses, including fundraisers heldshortly after the incident.
The Southington Police Department is currently investigating the incident, which left one victim dead and sent two more to the hospital.
At about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, officers were called to a hit and run motor vehicle accident in the area of the Outback Steakhouse.
Upon arrival, officers located three injured female pedestrians along the shoulder of the northbound lane.
According to police, the pedestrians had just left work at Gobi Grill and were walking south in the roadway in the northbound lane when they were struck by a vehicle. After striking the pedestrians, the vehicle fled the scene.
The injured were Huai “Emily” Liu , 23, Yang “Rita” Hong, 23 and Yan qiao “Joanne” Chen, 23, all of Southington.
Two of the injured persons were transported to Hartford Hospital while the third was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital. After days in critical condition, Chen’s injuries led to her death.
The injuries sustained by Liu and Hong were described by police as “serious [but] not life-threatening.”
Police said that the evading vehicle may have been an SUV, possibly white or red, which was last seen traveling north on Queen Street.
“We’re still getting leads and we’re still looking for witnesses who may have seen something,” said Police Spokesman Sergeant Jeff Dobratz.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Southington Police Department Accident Investigation Team.
Police are urging anyone with any information on the incident or anyone who was in the area at the time to contact Ofc. Timothy Wilk at (860) 621-0101, (860) 378-1600 x 2352, or twilk@southingtonpolice.org.